There are only a handful of people who can confidently list five things that define what it truly means to be part of the Pakistani nation, while most would fall silent. This silence is not accidental; it reflects a deeper malaise — an identity crisis that continues to haunt us even after nearly eight decades of independence.
One major reason lies in the sequence of our history: state-building came before nation-building. The structures of power, bureaucracy and military inherited from colonial rule were consolidated, while the more delicate task of nurturing a shared sense of belonging among diverse communities was delayed, and in many ways neglected. The result is an overly developed state apparatus standing atop a severely underdeveloped nation.
This gap is worsened by the psychological baggage we still carry. From ancient Aryan arrivals to Cold War interventions, we have historically welcomed foreign intrusions instead of drawing a firm line around values we could not compromise. This willingness to be shaped from outside has eroded the search for an indigenous “bottom rock” — a foundation of shared principles and identity.
Pakistan is, in essence, a plural country. Our ethnicities, languages and regional traditions are not threats but building blocks of a richer collective identity. Yet instead of celebrating this diversity, successive governments have sought to superimpose a uniform identity — Islamising the public sphere and privileging Urdu as the sole national marker. In doing so, we have alienated many of our own citizens, undermining the federal spirit that requires Federating Units to feel connected to the Centre.
Economic justice, political inclusion and respect for pluralism are crucial pillars of nation-building. Nations are seldom manufactured through slogans or imposed homogeneity over the course of history. Unless we embrace our diversity as a source of strength and build shared values that catalyse national integration, Pakistan will remain a state in form, but not yet a fully realised nation in spirit.
Mohammad Nabeel Abid
Lahore
